AI literacy is emerging as a critical challenge for organisations as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates worldwide, according to a new study by Informatica from Salesforce in collaboration with Deloitte.

The report, titled “CDO Insights 2026: Data governance and the trust paradox of data and AI literacy take center stage”, highlights growing concerns around data readiness, governance, and workforce skills.

Notably, the study finds that AI literacy remains essential as companies move rapidly from experimentation to execution. Nearly 69 percent of organisations have now embedded generative AI into their business practices. This marks a sharp rise from 48 percent in 2024 and 45 percent in 2023.

At the same time, momentum is building around advanced technologies. About 47 percent of organisations have already adopted agentic AI. These systems can act autonomously to achieve defined goals.

However, as adoption grows, challenges are becoming more visible. According to the report, 91 percent of data leaders say data reliability remains a major barrier to moving generative AI projects from pilot to production. In addition, 90 percent are concerned that new AI pilots are progressing without resolving earlier data quality issues.

Meanwhile, a gap is emerging between leadership and employees. Informatica describes this as a “trust paradox”. While data and AI leaders remain cautious about governance and quality, 65 percent of respondents believe their organisation fully trusts the data used in AI initiatives.

As a result, targeted training is gaining urgency. More than 76 percent of leaders say visibility and governance have not kept pace with employee use of AI. Furthermore, 75 percent report that their workforce needs stronger data literacy skills. Another 74 percent say improved AI literacy is required.

Looking ahead, the pace of change is intensifying. Nearly 31 percent of organisations expect to adopt agentic AI by the end of this year. Yet, limited experience with such systems is already among the top barriers to production deployment.

Without immediate investment in skills and governance, many organisations risk falling behind their own digital ambitions. Therefore, building internal expertise is becoming a priority.

In addition, the study highlights growing dependence on external providers. About 54 percent of organisations plan to use vendor-supplied AI agents. In comparison, 44 percent expect to develop them internally. On average, companies anticipate working with eight vendors to support AI management in 2026, mainly to improve data trust.

Speaking on the findings, Emilio Valdés, SVP Sales International at Informatica from Salesforce, said the benefits of AI cannot be realised without reliable data foundations. He noted that while employees often trust AI-driven data, many lack sufficient AI literacy and governance structures to support responsible and ethical outcomes.

He added that weak governance increases risk and reduces confidence in AI initiatives. According to Valdés, organisations must prioritise data reliability, strengthen AI governance, and upskill employees to ensure decisions are based on trusted information.

Commenting on regional trends, Yasser Shawky, Vice President for Emerging Markets at Informatica from Salesforce, said AI momentum is growing rapidly across the Middle East. This growth is being driven by national strategies, digital government programmes, and enterprise transformation efforts.

However, he stressed that readiness remains a major challenge. He explained that governance, data management, and skills development must evolve at the same pace as AI adoption to sustain long-term progress.

Despite existing concerns, the outlook for data leaders remains positive. Around 86 percent expect their organisation’s investment in data management to increase in 2026. This reflects stronger recognition of data as a foundation for AI success.

Shawky concluded that future investments must focus on strengthening reliability, modernising governance, and embedding learning across the workforce. Ultimately, improving AI literacy will be essential for organisations seeking sustainable growth, responsible innovation, and long-term competitive advantage.

Related post

View all